1. Publishing Goals:
Champion's Destiny - DELAYED. The reality is, it still needs a bit more work. I'm not sending it out there as it is. I just can't. It feels sucky to delay it one more time, but I think it's the right decision.

2. Writing and Write 1 Sub 1 Goals:
I'm in revision, but I did spend a bit of time re-writing whole chapters that desperately needed new life.

In short stories, I got my short story off to the Turning Points Anthology, being put together by Randi Lee, so I completed a Write 1 Sub 1 Goal. (Except, I was revising this one, too, so it doesn't really count as new writing.)

3. Marketing
Um, twitter-pated, and helped a friend tweet and post about his new book. (He's supposed to stop by my blog one of these days, but that was delayed, too.)
My first book is still FREE.
Also, I took part in #99centnovember - still going.


4. Exercise Goals:
Hahahahahahahahahahahaha - agh. I lost track of miles and I definitely haven't walked that much - maybe 20 miles out of the 40-50 I had hoped to walk. Biking - not really. Kayaking - probably 10k in the first half of the month.

5. Invitational Goal:
I'm part of a party planning committee for a retirement party for an awesome kayaking and canoeing coach, so I've been inviting people to help out with that. Plus, I invited a friend to Thanksgiving dinner.

6. Spiritual Goals:
Prayer is okay, Bible study hit a low in the first half of the month and picked up for this last week, and I've helped out in a few small ways at church.

I'm looking forward to the family advent calendar - which is a little kid "lift the flap" kind with cartoon pictures and tiny devotions. My kids are way older these days, but we all still like bringing out this same calendar every year, lighting candles, and praying together.

Life has been . . . interesting, in good, bad, and well, just plain interesting, kinds of ways. I feel a little like taffy lately - stretched and pulled. Hopefully, it will make me sweeter. :)

Happy Thanksgiving!

I admit that much has not gone as previously planned this month, but yet, I am thankful.

I am thankful for bloggers, and readers, and writers, and family, and friends, and turkey dinners, and turkey dinners with vegans and omnivores sitting side-by-side at a laden smorgasbord table.

I'm thankful for life, sun, rain, wind, snow, and varying temperatures.

I'm thankful for the positives and the positive people.

I'm thankful for my church and my pastor, and the retired missionary in our church who reminds us to open our hearts and homes to everyone in Christ, from our neighbors to refugees.

What are you thankful for?



Happy Thanksgiving!

#99centnovember

I'll be here Friday for a goals update and a bit of news about being delayed . . . (but not de-railed)

Extremely Late Realms Faire Wrap-Up with Prize Notifications (and some news)

As a first year host for a Realms Faire game, I loved it! I admit that with crazy, busy life being what it is, I didn't feel like I spent enough time in the blog-world to truly host well, but I appreciated all the awesome responses to my hero's dilemmas.

Thank you for sharing your amazing creativity and talent!!!

The randomly picked winners from each day were:

Day 1: Yolanda Renee

Day 2: Cherie Reich

Day 3: Arlee Bird

Day 4: Nick Wilford

Day 5; Alex J. Cavanaugh

And, if you participated but didn't get a prize, you might find a little something extra in your inbox later today. :)

Again, I apologize for my lateness. I have been swamped a bit with life (my kids attended a three day kayaking and canoeing training intensive in Seattle aptly named "Frostbite" with some amazing local and Olympic level coaches and I drove them every day), and then I finished my weekend with a nasty stomach/digestive bug that's going around my area. For good humor, I tried to remember all the different slang terms for vomit . . . power hurling, urping, ralphing, etc. You probably don't want to know all those terms.

Anyway, I'm on the mend, but I'm a little behind in e-mails, including getting prizes to winners. I'll be trying to get that back on track today.

Also, I have newsish type stuff.

Next week, I'll post twice. 

One of those posts is super-important to me.

It's for a book that I proofread.

Although the writer is a multi-talented guy - musician, game programmer, and pastor - he's been holding back on publishing his book for a few years now. 

(He would be a great member for IWSG, but he doesn't blog.)

I would really like to support him in his book endeavor.

So, please, if it's a matter of commenting on this post or Monday's post . . . don't comment today, please comment on Monday. 

Here's a sneak preview of his cover (literally, I'm one of four people posting it anywhere):

So, if you never pictured Abram of the Bible as a young warrior dude with an attitude, well . . . this book might just hold some surprises for you. :)

Realms Faire, Day 5: Hero's Dilemma: A Dragon's Nap, Interrupted

Yesterday's Winner: !

Hero’s beware! 

Here at the House of Hero’s Dilemma, a new cliff-hanging adventure will dangle new heroes above the depths of destiny or despair. In 100 words or less, a hero will face a danger in story form.

Each day, the people of Realsmdom will decide the fate of these heroes in three sentences or less. If fateful endings are giving answer in poetic form, an extra entry for prizes will be awarded.

Daily e-book prizes will be awarded via random name-pulling from the entries after 8p.m. Pacific Time. Everyone is invited to participate.

People of Realmsom, you have the power of storytelling might to decide the fate of the would-be heroes. Will they die in glory or shame, live in victory or defeat?

 It is up to you.

Hero's Dilemma, Day 5: A Dragon's Nap, Interrupted

Curling around his favorite toy, Dragos purred himself into a midday nap on the deck. His human, Gwendy, would be home soon to praise his silky mane, and he wanted to be thoroughly rested for the occasion.

Something flicked his nose.

Dragos woke to see a knight in flame-retardant armor standing before him.

“Wake, foul beast and take your true form so I might rescue the maiden you have ensorcelled!”

Dragos yawned and allowed his dragon form to flow outward. His inner fire rumbled in his chest.

The knight brandished his sword. “Avaunt!”

His charge was interrupted by Gwendy’s arrival.

What happens next? Write the ending in three sentences or less (verse for a bonus entry) to enter to win A to Z Flashes of Foxwick or People of Foxwick and Their Neighbors by Cherie Reich.

Draw back the curtain and glimpse the extraordinary world of Foxwick and their neighbors!

Magical creatures abound. A phoenix flies proudly while a little dragon makes a new friend. Siblings fight and let their magic light up their lands. A future queen's love can turn a man's heart to ice. Lady Death meets an unusual companion and more stories from the kingdoms of Foxwick, Wintermill, Valdale, and Lochhollow.

These twenty-six flash fiction fantasy pieces will take you on a journey through the alphabet and to faraway, magical lands.

The kingdom hangs in the balance.

War threatens Foxwick on all sides.

The dreaded Shadowlands gains more souls. From the shrouded trees in Greymist Forest to the arid Blackden Barrens, monsters roam in search of their next victim. Sirens lure ships beneath Merrilea Sea. In cold and snowy Wintermill, royals plot to claim Foxwick as their own, even if they must use dragons and sorcery. Marriage between Foxwick's king and Lochhollow's princess creates a perilous alliance. Although brave Valdale will come to Foxwick's aid, the cost may be more than a true friend can stomach.

Set over a hundred years, these seventeen fantasy short stories explore the people, creatures, and lands in and around the Kingdom of Foxwick.

And, after you have decided the fate of the Hero’s Dilemma, try your hand at the other Realms Faire Events for more fun and prizes!

 Realms Faire

The Joust

Beware the Vortex

Dueling Bards

Unicorn Hunt

Phasers

Soak-a-Bloke and Drench-A-Wench

Who Roams Here?

Riddle Me This

Hall of Doors

Stockade Brigade

Velociraffle

What happens to Dragos? 

Decide his fate in three sentences or less. 

(Bonus points for poetic verse)

And, remember to include your e-mail address and book preference with your entry.

Realms Faire, Hero's Dilemma, Challenge 4: Renegade or Die

Yesterday's Winner: Arlee Bird!

Hero’s beware! 

Here at the House of Hero’s Dilemma, a new cliff-hanging adventure will dangle new heroes above the depths of destiny or despair. In 100 words or less, a hero will face a danger in story form.

Each day, the people of Realsmdom will decide the fate of these heroes in three sentences or less. If fateful endings are giving answer in poetic form, an extra entry for prizes will be awarded.

Daily e-book prizes will be awarded via random name-pulling from the entries after 8p.m. Pacific Time. Everyone is invited to participate.

People of Realmsom, you have the power of storytelling might to decide the fate of the would-be heroes. Will they die in glory or shame, live in victory or defeat?

 It is up to you.

Hero's Dilemma, Day 4: Renegade or Die

Bay Shannon ran his fingers over the cracked console of the ancient fighter. As a child, he had fought imaginary battles with renegades. He had never imagined that he would become one.

His friend Jay’s static-filled voice came from the radio at his hip, “B, you’ve got incoming.”

“Got it.”

Bay started the engines, and arced his fighter into the sky above his family’s devastated fields.

Two corporate fighters streaked towards him.

Bay flew like a scared rabbit, hoping the C-fighters wouldn’t bother to read his ship’s infrared.

Two streaks of plasma-fire rushed towards him.

What happens next? Write the ending in three sentences or less (verse for a bonus entry) to enter to win Thanmir War by Loni Townsend.

The Earth Clan has declared war and a landscaper is at the dead center of it. 

Derek thinks his chronic headaches are the worst of his problems. 

He's wrong. 

He wakes up in the middle of an unknown forest, surrounded by a couple dozen dead men he has no memory of killing. His only way back to society as he knows it is MaTisha, an amnesic woman with the power to transcend world boundaries. 

But going home isn't as easy as he had hoped, not when MaTisha is sought by two opposing armies prepared to do anything to keep her from the other side. 

Derek finds himself caught in the center, mixed up with mercenaries and guardians. And now, he's been possessed by a murderous alter ego with a personal mission to keep MaTisha safe. He wants nothing more to return to the life and family he loves. 

But his alter ego has other plans.

And, after you have decided the fate of the Hero’s Dilemma, try your hand at the other Realms Faire Events for more fun and prizes!

 Realms Faire

The Joust

Beware the Vortex

Dueling Bards

Unicorn Hunt

Phasers

Soak-a-Bloke and Drench-A-Wench

Who Roams Here?

Riddle Me This

Hall of Doors

Stockade Brigade

Velociraffle

What happens to Bay? 

Decide his fate in three sentences or less. 

(Bonus points for poetic verse)

And, remember to include your e-mail address and book preference with your entry.

Realms Faire, The House of the Hero's Dilemma Challenge 3: What's a knight to do?

Yesterday's prize winner is: Cherie Reich!

Hero’s beware! 

Here at the House of Hero’s Dilemma, a new cliff-hanging adventure will dangle new heroes above the depths of destiny or despair. In 100 words or less, a hero will face a danger in story form.

Each day, the people of Realsmdom will decide the fate of these heroes in three sentences or less. If fateful endings are giving answer in poetic form, an extra entry for prizes will be awarded.

Daily e-book prizes will be awarded via random name-pulling from the entries after 8p.m. Pacific Time. Everyone is invited to participate.

People of Realmsom, you have the power of storytelling might to decide the fate of the would-be heroes. Will they die in glory or shame, live in victory or defeat?

 It is up to you.

Hero's Dilemma 3: What's a knight to do?

With a battered cookie sheet for a shield and a branch for a sword, Taylor fought the dark knight.

Laughter broke her concentration.

“Would you look at her! I told you she’s crazy!”

Taylor took one look at her true enemies, and ran.

Rushing headlong through an overgrown set of bushes, she tripped over a root, and slammed into the back of a knight who looked like he had stepped out of the pages of Medieval Armor.

She backed away and shook her head. Her imagination was never this good.

He held up his black-gauntleted fingers, and . . .

Well, what happens next? What is Taylor’s fate?

End the story in three sentences or less by midnight Pacific time for a chance to win an e-book copy of The Vanished Knight by M. Gerrick aka Misha.

The entity living inside Callan’s soul orphaned her at age eleven. By the time she’s sixteen, it’s ensured her being shunted from one foster family to another. 

Her thirteenth foster assignment should be routine. Except...it's not. A psycho in medieval armor kidnaps her and she ends up in a magical world. There, she accidentally discovers a secret her parents had kept until the day they died. 

Both actually came from this magical world, but left before Callan was born. To cover their tracks, they’d lied about everything. Even who they really were. 

Driven to find out where she comes from, Callan’s trapped in a race for life and death. Walking away isn’t an option, but if she stays too long, the entity will find its next victim. 

In this world where secrets are sacrosanct and grudges are remembered, finding the truth will be near impossible. Especially when Callan has her own homicidal little secret to deal with. 

One with a taste for destroying her life.

And, after you have decided the fate of the Hero’s Dilemma, try your hand at the other Realms Faire Events for more fun and prizes!

 Realms Faire

The Joust

Beware the Vortex

Dueling Bards

Unicorn Hunt

Phasers

Soak-a-Bloke and Drench-A-Wench

Who Roams Here?

Riddle Me This

Hall of Doors

Stockade Brigade

Velociraffle

What happens to Taylor? 

Decide her fate in three sentences or less. 

(Bonus points for poetic verse)

And, remember to include your e-mail address and book preference with your entry.

And please, if you are in the USA, and you know a Veteran, give them a huge thank you or a huge hug today!

Realms Faire, House of the Hero's Dilemma, Day 2: Fairy Tale Gone Wrong

Author side note: I apologize for being late today - somehow I didn't get this set for automatic posting. 

Yesterday's prize winner is: Yolanda Renee!

Hero’s beware! 

Here at the House of Hero’s Dilemma, a new cliff-hanging adventure will dangle new heroes above the depths of destiny or despair. In 100 words or less, a hero will face a danger in story form.

Each day, the people of Realsmdom will decide the fate of these heroes in three sentences or less. If fateful endings are giving answer in poetic form, an extra entry for prizes will be awarded.

Daily e-book prizes will be awarded via random name-pulling from the entries after 8p.m. Pacific Time. Everyone is invited to participate.

People of Realmsom, you have the power of storytelling might to decide the fate of the would-be heroes. Will they die in glory or shame, live in victory or defeat?

 It is up to you.

Hero's Dilemma 2: Fairy Tale Gone Wrong

For as long as Rowan could remember, her dad had sung her to sleep. Even when she was old enough to have friends over, he sang them all to sleep. Plus, he insisted she have a night light in her room. 

The older she got, the more she realized this was strange, if not downright embarrassing. 

Then, one night, after pretending to go to sleep, she shut off her night light.

Within a few minutes, a shadowy figure appeared outside her window with a bag of sand in his hands. But, when he reached for her windowsill, she could see . . .

See what? How does our heroine, Rowan, fare against this shadowy villain?

End the story in less than three sentences by midnight Pacific time for a chance to win an e-book copy of Give Me Your Teeth by Jeff Chapman! 

Jimmy's mother is not your mother's Tooth Fairy. 

Ten-year old Jimmy wonders where the Tooth Fairy keeps all those teeth. It's a silly question and he plays along to get some coins, confident there's no such fae, or is there? What did he really see in the middle of the night? There's no such doubt about the bully and his sidekick preying on the kids at the bus stop. When Jimmy defies demands to hand over his money from the Tooth Fairy, he moves to the top of the bully's radar. Will the club-fisted terror really put out Jimmy's teeth? Or is the Tooth Fairy not so harmless? 

Give Me Your Teeth is an urban fantasy novella about a boy's confrontation with schoolyard evil and the fantastic. You'll never think of the Tooth Fairy in the same way. This one has teeth, lots of them, and she's not afraid to use them.

And, after you have decided the fate of the Hero’s Dilemma, try your hand at the other Realms Faire Events for more fun and prizes!

 Realms Faire

Realms Faire Events:

Hosted by Cassandra Webb. Daily prizes.

Your character squares off with another writer’s darling. Can you win? The audience decides.

Hosted by Cherie Reich

I am a book so popular they made a movie of me. Within the what if realms I lie. Horror? Fantasy? Or am I Sci-Fi? A riddle every day during the Realms Faire for you to take your best guess and have a chance to win a prize most splendid.

Hosted by Christine Rains

Come by and soak a blogging friend with wet sponges… or witticisms. Prizes drawn daily.

Hosted by MPax. Prizes for the winning knight. Prizes drawn daily for the crowd.

Up to 10 knights can joust. Each will battle daily. Magic words will be granted to each knight to pass out to their adoring fans. Knights score points by commenters using their magic words. Knight with the most points at the end of the week wins. What does the knight win? A year of promo on my blog in the slider and a tumbler printed with your championship boasts and badge (SEE HERE).

Winners are drawn daily from the adoring crowds.

Hosted by M. Gerrick

Every book offered as a  prizes will be hidden behind a doorway. Under each door will be the blurb for the hidden book. Each correct answer will be put in the drawing for the book given as a prize. random.org will be used to pick the winners.

Hosted by Untethered Realms. A simple word game. Prizes drawn daily.

Hosted by Julie Flanders

Each day I will give clues to a famous ghost from literature or movies. I’ll give new clues throughout the day until someone guesses the right ghost. The first one to guess correctly will get a $5 Amazon gift card and a bundle of ebooks.The only rule is that the same person can’t win the daily game more than once.

At the end of the week everyone who left a comment will be entered into a drawing for the grand prize which is a $30 Amazon gift card and a bundle of ebooks.

House Waibel is hosting the Stockade Brigade. Warrants of arrest have been issued for select authors accusing them of witchery and wizardry. The pillory has been erected and the trial dates set.

Good people of Realmsdom, I call upon you to bear witness to these trials and offer your testimony for or against the author’s crimes.

Points will be awarded for wordsmithing a comment in your best Olde English afore 8 of the clock in the Eastern time on the following scale:

5-Ye speak as one from the days of Queen Bess.

4-Ye could pass muster as a Ren Faire cast member

3-Ye could pass as a Ren Faire attendee

2-Ye wouldn’t be foolin’ yer mother

1-Ye stand out like the sun in a cloudless sky

An e-book will be given every day to the witness who scores the most points. Fear not, your daily score will be accumulated and the person with the highest score shall receive a special prize at the end of the week. So, brush off your Olde English and prepare to testify.

Hosted by L. Diane Wolfe.

You are charged with tracking down the unicorns!

Every day, a new blogger will host a photo. You will have to find the unicorns in the image, much like the famous “Where’s Waldo?” Leave a comment stating how many unicorns you find in that image. The most correct guesses out of five, wins.

Prizes will include books and gift cards.

Five images – many unicorns – only one winner!

Hosted by Realms Faire HERE. Prize packages up for raffle.

Hosted by River Fairchild Prizes drawn daily.

A vortex opens. Five people are trapped in the Underworld with only one way out – challenge an immortal to a contest of skill. The odds are against those brave enough to accept but enthusiastic fans can help them win their freedom with magic words given to each contestant. Daily prizes awarded to each challenger and a commenter chosen at random.

What happens to Rowan? 

Decide her fate in three sentences or less. 

(Bonus points for poetic verse)

And, remember to include your e-mail address and book preference with your entry.

Realms Faire: House of the Hero's Dilemma, Challenge 1

Hero’s beware! 

Here at the House of Hero’s Dilemma, a new cliff-hanging adventure will dangle new heroes above the depths of destiny or despair. In 100 words or less, a hero will face a danger in story form.

Each day, the people of Realsmdom will decide the fate of these heroes in three sentences or less. If fateful endings are giving answer in poetic form, an extra entry for prizes will be awarded.

Daily e-book prizes will be awarded via random name-pulling from the entries after 8p.m. Pacific Time. Everyone is invited to participate.

People of Realmsom, you have the power of storytelling might to decide the fate of the would-be heroes. Will they die in glory or shame, live in victory or defeat?

 It is up to you.

Hero's Dilemma, Day 1: Sherlock in Space

Captain Sherlock of 221B Baker Streak and his first mate, Dr. Watson, were in trouble again. It had all started out as an innocent investigation of a not-so-innocent string of murders on Friza 3, third moon of Regus.

The murderer had the latest Class A Streak ship with weapons.

“Sherlock, I told you we needed missiles more than that science lab taking up space in cargo bay,” Dr. Watson stated his obvious and redundant opinion, again.

Sherlock shrugged. “You’ll just have to fly us out of here, Watson. Use your space navy skills.”

Plasma fire struck their weakened shields, and . . . 

What happens next?

Finish the story in less than three sentences in the comment section by 8p.m. Pacific Time to enter the day’s prize giveaway of either: Girl of Great Price, a future noir detective story; or Captain Quasar: Starfaring Adventures, a space comedy adventure –both written by the talented Milo James Fowler.
Please include your e-mail address and which book you would prefer with your entry.

In a city run by a powerful mobster, nobody wants to play the hero. Private investigator Charlie Madison just wants to pay the rent. 

Join Captain Bartholomew Quasar & the crew of the Effervescent Magnitude in this hilarious collection of starfaring adventures as they confront bands of space pirates, cantankerous bandits, exotic aliens, and a villain with the fastest thumbs in the quadrant.

And, after you have decided the fate of the Hero’s Dilemma, try your hand at the other Realms Faire Events for more fun and prizes!

 Realms Faire

Realms Faire Events:

Hosted by Cassandra Webb. Daily prizes.

Your character squares off with another writer’s darling. Can you win? The audience decides.

Hosted by Cherie Reich

I am a book so popular they made a movie of me. Within the what if realms I lie. Horror? Fantasy? Or am I Sci-Fi? A riddle every day during the Realms Faire for you to take your best guess and have a chance to win a prize most splendid.

Hosted by Christine Rains

Come by and soak a blogging friend with wet sponges… or witticisms. Prizes drawn daily.

Hosted by MPax. Prizes for the winning knight. Prizes drawn daily for the crowd.

Up to 10 knights can joust. Each will battle daily. Magic words will be granted to each knight to pass out to their adoring fans. Knights score points by commenters using their magic words. Knight with the most points at the end of the week wins. What does the knight win? A year of promo on my blog in the slider and a tumbler printed with your championship boasts and badge (SEE HERE).

Winners are drawn daily from the adoring crowds.

Hosted by M. Gerrick

Every book offered as a  prizes will be hidden behind a doorway. Under each door will be the blurb for the hidden book. Each correct answer will be put in the drawing for the book given as a prize. random.org will be used to pick the winners.

Hosted by Untethered Realms. A simple word game. Prizes drawn daily.

Hosted by Julie Flanders

Each day I will give clues to a famous ghost from literature or movies. I’ll give new clues throughout the day until someone guesses the right ghost. The first one to guess correctly will get a $5 Amazon gift card and a bundle of ebooks.The only rule is that the same person can’t win the daily game more than once.

At the end of the week everyone who left a comment will be entered into a drawing for the grand prize which is a $30 Amazon gift card and a bundle of ebooks.

House Waibel is hosting the Stockade Brigade. Warrants of arrest have been issued for select authors accusing them of witchery and wizardry. The pillory has been erected and the trial dates set.

Good people of Realmsdom, I call upon you to bear witness to these trials and offer your testimony for or against the author’s crimes.

Points will be awarded for wordsmithing a comment in your best Olde English afore 8 of the clock in the Eastern time on the following scale:

5-Ye speak as one from the days of Queen Bess.

4-Ye could pass muster as a Ren Faire cast member

3-Ye could pass as a Ren Faire attendee

2-Ye wouldn’t be foolin’ yer mother

1-Ye stand out like the sun in a cloudless sky

An e-book will be given every day to the witness who scores the most points. Fear not, your daily score will be accumulated and the person with the highest score shall receive a special prize at the end of the week. So, brush off your Olde English and prepare to testify.

Hosted by L. Diane Wolfe.

You are charged with tracking down the unicorns!

Every day, a new blogger will host a photo. You will have to find the unicorns in the image, much like the famous “Where’s Waldo?” Leave a comment stating how many unicorns you find in that image. The most correct guesses out of five, wins.

Prizes will include books and gift cards.

Five images – many unicorns – only one winner!

Hosted by Realms Faire HERE. Prize packages up for raffle.

Hosted by River Fairchild Prizes drawn daily.

A vortex opens. Five people are trapped in the Underworld with only one way out – challenge an immortal to a contest of skill. The odds are against those brave enough to accept but enthusiastic fans can help them win their freedom with magic words given to each contestant. Daily prizes awarded to each challenger and a commenter chosen at random.

What happens to Captain Sherlock and Dr. Watson? 

Decide their fate in three sentences or less. 

(Bonus points for poetic verse)

And, remember to include your e-mail address and book preference with your entry.